Load hanger



1957 c. R. LITTLE ETAL 3,349,978

LOAD HANGER Filed March 16, 1966 CLIFFORD R. LITTLE ROBERT J. OVERY,SR.'

BUCKHO/P/V, BLORE, KLARbu/sr a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States PatentM Sr., Rte. 1, Box 1048, Beaverton, Oreg. 97005 Filed Mar. '16, 1966,Ser. No. 534,805 8 Claims. (Cl. 224-43) The present application relatesto a device for suspending loads from a supporting bod-y and moreparticularly to a load hanger for supporting and suspending generallyrectangular loads such as, for example, blocks of salt from pack horsesand other pack animals.

Blocks of salt for sustaining wild life and livestock in remote roadlessareas, particularly in the winter months, are usually carried into suchareas on pack animals. In the past, this has required loading two ofsuch salt blocks, weighing about fifty pounds apiece, into a knapsackand then carrying two of such knapsacks on a pack animal. Thetransportation of salt blocks in the foregoing manner is a two-manoperation since two men are required both to load and unload eachknapsack on the animal. Knapsacks for this purpose are also costly andwear out rapidly in use.

The present invention eliminates the need for knapsacks and two-manloading and unloading in transporting salt blocks by the provision ofthe simple yet unique rigid load hanger comprising a pair ofload-engaging arms and a single cross member capable of supporting asingle block of salt and suspending the same from a horse or other packanimal. The load hangers can be used in multiples by hooking the sametogether one above the other, thus enabling a single pack animal tocarry the same number of salt blocks as before, but enabling the blocksto be loaded and unloaded singly by one man.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide arigid load hanger for supporting loads and suspending the same from aprimary supporting body.

Another primary object is to provide a load hanger especially adaptedfor'suspending rectangular loads from pack animals.

A more specific object is to provide a load hanger which can be used inmultiples so that a series of such load hangers can be easily attachedto and detached from one another for easy loading and unloading ofportions of a load at a time.

Another specific object is to provide a load-hanging device whichquickly and simply engages and releases a load without necessitatingremoval of any parts therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a load hanger of a novel andsimplified construction which replaces more complex, expensive andhard-to-handle load-carrying means such as conventional rigid containersand flexible pack bags.

A further object is to provide a load hanger which can be disassembledeasily and transported in a very compact disassembled state when not inuse.

A further object is to provide a load hanger as aforesaid which isespecially adapted for carrying blocks of salt but which can also beused to carry other loads of comparable size and shape.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparentfrom the following detailed description which proceeds with reference tothe accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a series of load hangers in accordance with the inventionsuspended in their operative positions from a pack horse and supportingblocks of salt;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the horse of FIG. 1 showing a pairof the load hangers on a slightly enlarged scale;

3,349,978 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of asingle load hanger on a scale greatly enlarged from that of FIG. 2 andshowing one arm of the load hanger in both its loadengaging andload-releasing position;

FIG. 4 is a View taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3 showing the insideface of one of the two arms of the load hanger and showing in sectionthe pivotal connection between such arm and the base member of thehanger;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3 showing an upper outer surface portion of one arm of the loadhanger;

FIG. 6 is a partial bottom view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5showing one-half of the base member of the load hanger;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3 showingthe cross-sectional configuration of an upper portion of one of the armsof the load hanger; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3 showingan upper surface portion of the base member of the load hanger.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a horse H on the back ofwhich is mounted in the usual manner a conventional alforja 10 having apair of metal rings 12 attached thereto on each side of the horse. Asshown in FIG. 2, a load hanger in accordance with the invention,indicated generally at 14, is hooked to a pair of the rings 12 on eachside of the horse, and an additional load hanger 14' is hooked to thebottom of each of the firstmentioned load hangers so that the horsecarries a total of four such hangers. Each load hanger supports astandard size block of salt S in a manner to be described in greaterdetail hereinafter.

Referring now to the enlarged view of FIG. 3, each load hanger 14includes a base, or cross member 16 disposed generally horizontally inits operative position, and a pair of side, or arm members 18, 19pivotally and releasably attached at their lower ends to the oppositeends of the cross member in a manner so that each arm can be swung froma generally vertical load-engaging position as shown in solid linesoutwardly to a load-releasing position as indicated by the dashed lineposition of arm 19.

The upper end of each arm is fromed into a hook 20 with the hook of thearm 18 extending in a direction opposite that of the hook of arm 19, asindicated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, so that when the arms are hooked to apair of the rings 12, the load hanger will not be jolted loose from therings when the horse is in motion. The hook portions are preferably ofcircular cross section, and, if formed of metal, such portions arecoated with a wearresistant plastic such as Teflon to reduce wear andnoise at these points.

The lower end of each arm includes an eye portion 22 which projectsbeneath the cross member when the arms are attached thereto so that thehooked upper ends of the arms of one load hanger can be hooked to theeyes of another load hanger, thereby enabling a series of load hangersto be hooked together and also enabling easy attachment and detachmentof the load hangers from one another when desired.

As shown in FIG. 7, each arm is generally T-shaped in cross section andincludes a flat inwardly facing surface portion 24 on a flange 26 of theT and an outwardly directed rib 28 forming the stem of the T andincreasing in length in a direction toward the lower end of the arm.Intermediate the upper and lower ends of each arm a generallycylindrical hub portion 30 projects outwardly from the inner surface 24in a direction toward the opposite arm. The purpose of the hub portionis to provide a load-engaging means which, when the arms are generallynormal to the cross member, project into similarly shaped recesses inthe opopsite ends of the salt block S to retain the block between thearms and above the cross member as indicated. When it is desired torelease the block from the load hanger, the arms are simply swungoutwardly away from one another to disengage the hubs from the recessesof the block. It will be noted that each hub tapers inwardly slightlytoward its central axis as it extends outwardly from the inner surface24 of the arm so that it will enter and exit easily from the recess inthe salt block. As indicated by the partially sectioned portion of thehub of arm 19 in FIG. 3 and by FIG. 4, each hub is hollow and open atits outer end and may be cast as an integral part of the arm which, likethe cross member, is preferably made of light-weight metal such asaluminum alloy or high-strength plastic. The rib 28, of course, addsstrength and rigidity to the arm.

It will be evident from the construction of the load hanger as describedthus far that with a block of salt between the arms 18 and 19 and thearms hooked either to an upwardly adjacent load hanger or ther etainerrings 12 so that the arms are generally normal to the cross member andthe hubs are within recesses in the block, the block will be lockedbetween the arms and cannot be removed therefrom without first unhookingthe arms from the members from which they are suspended.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the cross member 16 includes a horizontallyextending upper flanged portion 40 having a fiat top surface 41 and acentral vertical flange 42 extending downwardly from the upper flangeintermediate the opposite ends of the cross member. The vertical flangeincludes a curved outer handle portion 44 which defines a centralaperture 45. This aperture and handle portion on the lowermost one of apair of attached load hangers on each side of a pack animal provides ameans used to secure the opposite ends of a rope R extending beneath thehorse to stabilize the load as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flat uppersurface 41 of upper flange 40 helps support the salt block or other loadmounted between the arms.

As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6, vertical flange 42 of the cross memberforks adjacent each end thereof into a pair of parallel flanged hookportions 46, 48 which provide a space 50 therebetween for receiving atang portion 52 of each arm, such portion extending laterally fromadjacent the lower end thereof. The hook portions 46, 48 open upwardlyto provide recesses 54 for receiving and retaining pivot projections 56which extend laterally from the opposite sides of each tang 52 near theouter end thereof. In order that the projections 56 can be inserted inthe recess 54 formed by the hook portions of the base member, a pair oflongitudinally extending slots 58, one near each of the opposite ends ofthe cross member, extend through the upper flange thereof. These slotsenable insertion of the pivot projections into the recesses of the hookportions by receiving an outer portion of the tang during suchinsertion.

Another important function of the tangs is that they support the crossmember when the arms are hooked to a supporting body. Outward pivotingmovement of the arms is provided by rotation of the projections 56within the recesses of the hook portions. Abutment of the upper edge 60of each tang against the undersurface of upper flange 40 of the crossmember limits upward pivoting movement of the arms relative to the crossmember to an extent such that the arms upper limit positions aresubstantially normal to the cross member. Abutment of the flangeportions 26 of the arm members against the ends of the cross member alsohas a limiting effect on the inward pivoting movement of the arm memberstoward one another.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that with the foregoingattaching means the arm members can be quickly attached and detachedfrom the cross member and pivoted relative thereto without the insertionor removal of any retaining pin or other fastening means,

and yet when the arms are suspended from a supporting body with the loadhanger supporting a load, the arms cannot become detached from the crossmember.

The opposite ends of the base members also include a pair of ears 64, 65which depend from upper flange 40 and have aligned openings 66therethrough into which a removable pin (not shown) can be inserted ifdesired for locking the arms to the cross member with the arms normalthereto and without permitting pivotal movement of the arms relative tothe cross member. In using the load hangers for transporting salt blocksand other similarly shaped loads on pack animals, insertion of a pinthrough the opening 66 would not be necessary, and therefore the earscould be eliminated if desired. Nevertheless, for certain otherapplications such as, for example, in using the load hangers aspermanent holders for suspending salt blocks from fixed objects such asa fence to enable animals to utilize the salt, the ears and cooperativepins would be desirable to prevent accidental dissassembly of thehanger.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the illustrated load hangercould, if desired, be used to support loads other than salt blocks suchas, for example, any load having the indicated shape and recesses at theopposite ends thereof for receiving the hubs 30. In fact, boxlikecontainers having recessed ends could be constructed of the indicatedshaped and supported by the load hangers on pack animals for packingsupplies placed within such boxes instead of using conventional packsaddles for this purpose. In such instances the cross member could, ifdesired, be made an integral part of the bottom of the box. The upperflange of the cross member could also be pan shaped to support saltblocks while the same are in use.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention permits of modification in arrangement and detail. We claim asour invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit andscope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A load hanger for suspending a load from a supporting bodycomprising:

:1 biase member for extension horizontally beneath a one pair only ofopposite side members, each having an upper end and a lower end,

means for pivotally attaching said side members to said base member sothat said side members extend generally upwardly from opposite ends ofsaid base member on opposite sides of said load and so as to permitswinging movement of each side member from an upright position forengaging said load outwardly to a second position for releasing saidload,

a load engaging projection on each side member intermediate the oppositeends thereof and extending inwardly toward the opposite side member forinterengaging a corresponding recess in a load to be carried.

and hook means at the upper end of each side member for suspending saidside members and their supported base member and load from saidsupporting body, so that the weight of said side members, base memberand load maintains said side members in a substantially normalrelationship to said base member to prevent release of a load betweensaid side members with said side members thus suspended.

2. A load hanger according to claim 1 wherein hook means of one saidside member extends in an opposite hooking direction from the hook meansof the other side member when said side members are attached to saidbase member so as to prevent accidental removal of said side membersfrom said supporting body even though said supporting body might be inmotion.

3. A load hanger according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivotallyattaching said side members to said base member includes a tangextending laterally inwardly from adjacent the lower end of each sidemember toward the opposite said side member and beneath an end portionof said base member,

and hook-and-pin type attaching means, one part of which is on said basemember and the other part of which is on said tang for releasablyinterengaging one another and permitting limited pivoting movement ofeach side member relative to said base member, said side members andsaid base member including means permitting outward swinging movementonly of said side members relative to said base member from positionsgenerally normal to said base member.

4. A load hanger according to claim 3 wherein said hook-an-pin typeattaching means are so arranged that said side members can be releasedfrom said base member only when said side members are pivoted outwardlyrelative to said base member so as to prevent accidental disengagementof said side members from said base member when said hanger issupporting a load.

5. A load hanger according to claim 1 wherein the upper end of each sidemember defines a downwardly opening single hook and said side membersare detachably pivoted one to each of the opposite ends of said basemember, the hook of one side member extending in an opposite hookingdirection from the hook of the other side member when said side membersare pivotally attached to said base member, said side members beingidentical to each other to an extent such that they can both be castfrom a common mold.

6. A load hanger for suspending a load from a supporting bodycomprising:

an elongate, rigid cross member including a planar top surface portionfor at least partially supporting a load thereon,

upwardly opening hook means on said cross member near the opposite endsthereof and beneath said top surface portion,

aperture means on said cross member between the opposite ends thereofand beneath said top surface portion,

said top surface portion including a pair of elongate slots extendingtherethrough, one adjacent each of said hook means,

a pair of rigid arm members, each including an integral hook at one endthereof and an eye at the opposite end thereof,

each said arm member including a laterally projecting tang portion abovesaid eye,

said tang portion including pivot projections extending laterally fromthe opposite sides thereof for interengaging one of the hook means ofsaid cross member,

the hook means of said cross member and the pivot projectioins on saidarm members permitting the swinging of said arm members relative to saidcross member while said arm members remain attached to said base memberfrom load-engaging positions generally normal to said cross member topositions outwardly of said load-engaging positions for releasing a loadpositioned between said arms,

each said arm member including an enlarged loadengaging portionextending laterally toward the opposite arm member intermediate theopposite ends of each side member for interengaging a load placedbetween said arm members and above said cross member when said armmembers are in their loadsupporting positions.

7. A load hanger for suspending a load from a supporting bodycomprising,

a base member for extension horizontally beneath a load,

a pair of opposite side members, each having an upper and a lower end,

means for pivotally attaching said side members to said base member sothat said side members extend generally upwardly from opposite ends ofsaid base member on opposite sides of said load and so as to permitswinging movement of each side member from an upright position forengaging said load outwardly to a second position for releasing saidload,

fastening means at the upper end of each side member for suspending saidside members from a supporting body,

load engaging means intermediate the upper and lower ends of each sidemember for interengaging a load position between said side members,

and means at the lower end of each side member projecting beneath saidbase member for permitting the attachment and suspension of other loadhangers therefrom.

8. A load hanger for suspending a load from a supporting bodycomprising,

an elongate rigid generally horizontal cross member including a loadengaging top surface portion for at least partially supporting a loadthereon,

upwardly and laterally outwardly opening hook means on said cross membernear the opposite ends thereof and beneath said top surface portion,

said top surface portion including a pair of longitudinally elongatedslots extending therethrough and spaced inwardly of the opposite ends ofsaid cross member, one above each of said hook means,

a pair of rigid arm members, each including an integral fastening meansat an upper end thereof,

each said arm member including a laterally projecting tang portion at alower end portion thereof,

said tang portion including pivot projections extending laterally fromopposite sides thereof for pivotally interengaging one of said hookmeans of said cross member,

said hook means on said cross member and the associated said tangportion and projections of each said arm member being sized relative toeach other so that said projections can be inserted within thedisengaged from the associated said hook means only by first swingingthe upper portion of said arm member outwardly relative to said crossmember and inserting a free end portion of said tang portion within theone of said pair of slots positioned above the associated hook means,

each said arm member including load retaining means intermediate theopposite ends thereof for retaining a load between said arm members whensaid arm members are generally normal to said cross member and suspendedby said fastening means from a sup porting body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,024 3/1916 Thorson 224491,380,994 6/1921 McNary 22443 1,462,831 7/1923 Schuman 22449 1,777,39410/1930 Coe 29467 2,272,314 2/ 1942 Williams 224-49 X 3,020,078 2/ 1962Ray V 29463 3,095,989 7/1963 Morrison 214 3,157,132 11/1964 Floehr 283 XGERALD M. F ORLENZA, Primary Examiner. F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LOAD HANGER FOR SUSPENDING A LOAD FROM A SUPPORTING BODYCOMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER FOR EXTENSION HORIZONTALLY BENEATH A LOAD, ONEPAIR ONLY OF OPPOSITE SIDES MEMBERS, EACH HAVING AN UPPER END AND ALOWER END, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY ATTACHING SAID SIDE MEMBERS TO SAID BASEMEMBER SO THAT SAID SIDE MEMBERS EXTEND GENERALLY UPWARDLY FROM OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID BASE MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LOAD AND SO AS TOPERMIT SWINGING MOVEMENT OF EACH SIDE MEMBER FROM AN UPRIGHT POSITIONFOR ENGAGING SAID LOAD OUTWARDLY TO A SECOND POSITION FOR RELEASING SAIDLOAD, A LOAD ENGAGING PROJECTION ON EACH SIDE MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THEOPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD THE OPPOSITE SIDEMEMBER FOR INTERENGAGING A CORRESPONDING RECESS IN A LOAD TO BE CARRIED.AND HOOK MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF EACH SIDE MEMBER FOR SUSPENDING SAIDSIDE MEMBER AND THEIR SUPPORTED BASE MEMBER AND LOAD FROM SAIDSUPPORTING BODY, SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, BASE MEMBERAND LOAD MAINTAINS SAID SIDE MEMBERS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY NORMALRELATIONSHIP TO SAID BASE MEMBER TO PREVENT RELEASE OF A LOAD BETWEENSAID SIDE MEMBERS WITH SAID SIDE MEMBERS THUS SUSPENDED.